Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 229

The Lockwood family and Phoebe were essentially Emma's sole emotional lifelines during her darkest days.

To outsiders, it looked like six years abroad had simply faded her connections with the people back home.

But the truth was, to survive the isolation, she had relentlessly replayed those happy memories in her mind on a loop, making her deeply psychologically dependent on those bonds.

"Breaking an emotional addiction takes time. Feeling your heart soften and break for them isn't your fault."

Carter guided her gently, his eyes filled with profound heartache.

Emma seemed to experience a sudden epiphany.

A relieved, easy smile graced her lips as she teased, "I didn't realize Mr. Harrington was so well-versed in psychology."

"I just know you."

The honest confession slipped out of Carter before he could stop it, leaving Emma stunned.

Was that a confession?

"No, I mean, as a competent business partner, it's my job to understand you."

Carter quickly covered his tracks, fully remembering how often Emma had drawn the boundary that they were strictly partners.

He had to constantly prove he was respecting her limits, terrified she would think he was overstepping.

"You certainly are a very competent partner."

Emma laughed, though for some unexplainable reason, his quick correction left a hollow sting of disappointment in her chest.

She masked her emotions flawlessly. Even though Carter was watching her closely from the corner of his eye, he couldn't detect a single crack in her armor.

Emma was now suddenly responsible for two grown men pretending to be invalids. Changing their bandages wasn't physically exhausting, but their relentless antics were draining her sanity.

"Emma, my chest hurts."

"Honey, my arm hurts."

"Emma, let's verify the pharmaceutical ingredients."

"Honey, I wanted to discuss the medicated oil factory with you."

With 'Honey' ringing in her left ear and 'Emma' ringing in her right, three days of the circus broke her.

She bolted.

"Julian, why do I feel like Travis is acting completely deranged?"

When Carter constantly called out to her, it made sense—he was putting on a show for the staff, and honestly, he just had a clingy streak. She found it perfectly normal.

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